Fire Destroys Austin Church

By Margaret Lyons in News on Jan 18, 2008 11:15PM

A two-story, 100-year-old church burned down this morning. More than 100 firefighters were dispatched to the Emmanuel Temple, an African Methodist Episcopal Church on the 500 block of North LeClaire, this morning, and while they were able to save the house next door, the church itself is pretty much destroyed. The steeple and bell tower are intact, but the roof and sanctuary are gone. One firefighter injured his shoulder, but everyone else is fine; the 20-person congregation is, understandably, devastated. [Trib, CBS 2, ABC 7 (nice comment), image via NBC 5]